TOWIE babe Frankie Essex has just split from her long-term boyfriend and isn’t looking forward to spending the day alone in front of the TV

Valentine’s Day might be the most romantic day of the year but how on earth do you get it right?

TOWIE babe Frankie Essex, 24, has just split from her long-term boyfriend and isn’t looking forward to spending the day alone in front of the TV.

So we lent her model Tommy Maxwell, 32, from Folkestone in Kent and Daily Star man Andy Jones, 28, from south London.

While Tommy went all-out for traditional romance, Andy took her on a more down-to-earth date.

But which man came out the winner? Frankie tottered off in her highest heels to find out.

FLOWERS

Lothario Tommy makes a confident start, arriving in a convertible with a bunch of red roses. The flowers are almost as rosy as Frankie’s cheeks. She is clearly pleased to get them!

There’s only one problem – how is she going to hump them around when she has a Hermes bag to carry?

“Tommy, these are lovely, but you’ll have to stick them in the boot babe,” says Frankie.

Oh dear, perhaps he should have had them delivered instead.

LONDON EYE

Great start – a private pod above London’s skyline is about the most romantic spot you can find in the UK. The attraction (londoneye.com) recently saw its 5,000th wedding proposal.

Enjoying a chocolate truffle, Frankie is immediately very impressed.

“Wow, I can practically see Essex from up here,” she gushes. Just as she is admiring the view – of the hunky model and Big Ben – our Tommy has an accident with the champagne, splashing bubbles all down her front.

“Tommy, couldn’t this have waited until date number three?” she shrieks and the romance is popped.

ROMANTIC WALK

St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament... the hot dog sellers trying to fleece tourists – what could be more captivating than a stroll along the South Bank?

Soon Frankie isn’t interested in Tommy’s history of St Paul’s. Splashed with champagne and rain, she feels like a Formula One driver.

“Get me inside for a drink please,” she says. Tommy’s scored an own goal.

CAROUSEL

There’s nothing I enjoy more than getting on my high horse and a first date is no different.

I drag Frankie on a carousel on the way to the pub and despite the rain our date gets up to a gallop with a laugh and a joke. I say to Frankie: “Do you reckon these nags are going to end up in a lasagne?”